MiniMed 670G - First 'Artificial Pancreas' Approved By FDA

Roughly 1.25 million people in the US have Type 1 diabetes. These patients often opt to have an insulin pump that can administer insulin as needed throughout the day. Some also buy a glucose monitor, which is used to continuously monitor blood sugar levels; that way a diabetic can know if their levels are going too low or too high and find a way to correct it.

In contrast, the MiniMed 670G, referred to as a "hybrid closed loop" system, is what Jeffrey Shoorin of the FDA said in a statement is a "first-of-its-kind technology": the first approved system that combines both the glucose monitor and the insulin pump in one device.

According to the FDA, the device measures blood sugar every five minutes, then responds by sending insulin into the body, or holding steady. Diabetics can also manually request insulin around mealtimes.